Take-Two Boss Points Out How Hard It Is To Make A Hit Like GTA

Leslie Benzies left Rockstar Games in 2016 after an acrimonious split that led to a legal fight and a confidential agreement in 2019. His new studio, Build a Rocket Boy, launched MindsEye, a third-person shooter with open-world driving, which received the worst reviews among 2025 releases. During remarks at a technology, media, and telecom conference, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said making hits is becoming harder as entertainment industries mature. He said Rockstar can make massive hits, while many others, including former Rockstar employees, have tried and have not been able to match that success. The comments were widely read as a subtle reference to MindsEye and Benzies’ team.

"“Making hits seems to get harder and harder and harder as entertainment industries mature,” Strauss Zelnick said during remarks at the TD Cowen 54th Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. “The folks at Rockstar seem to be able to make these massive hits, and lots of other people have tried. Lots and lots, including former Rockstar employees. And so far, they haven't been able to do it.”"

"“We have plans to add multiplayer, [and] we have plans to make a full open world,” he said of Build a Rocket Boy's plans for MindsEye in an interview just before it released. “And of course, we've also got to look at what players are creating, and incorporate that into our plans. Given the ease of the tools, we think there's going to be a high percentage of players who will jump in and give it a pop, see how it feels. Hopefully, some will create compelling content we can then promote and make that part of our plans to push to other players.”"

"Long-time Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies had a very acrimonious split with Rockstar Games back in 2016. It resulted in a legal fight, filled with competing allegations, that eventually ended in a confidential agreement in 2019. Last year, his new studio launched a third-person shooter with open-world driving called MindsEye that ended up being the worst-reviewed game of 2025."

Read at Kotaku